The Irish standard., 1887-01-08
THE TROUBLED WATERS.
! How They Are Duieted by the Applica.
! ton of Vegetable or Animal Oils.

How They Are Quieted by the Applica.
tion of Vegetable or Animal Oils
The branch photographic office in
the Maritime Exchange is supplying all
merchant captains sailing out of this
port with pamphlet on the use of oil
to lessen the dangerous effects OF
heavy seas. The pamphlet is not a
theoretical dissertation, but compila-
ton of cases in which oil has been
used, with description of the manner
of using it. A careful record has been
kept by the photographic Office for
some time of ships which have used
oil in storms, and the officers are con-
vinced Of it's great utility. Experience
seems to demonstrate that mineral
oils are not so effective as vegetable or
animal oils and the use Of the first is
not recommended.
One case cited by the photographic
Office is that of the steamship Thomas
Melville. She left Baltimore, Md,
in February, 1884. Running before a
gale from the westward, she was con-
stantly boarded by heavy seas. Two
canvas bags were made, punctured in
places with sail needle and filed with
oil. These bags were hung over the
bows and allowed to drag in the wa
ter. The oil spread out to windward,
preventing the combing of the waves,
and the seas no longer came on board.
One gallon lasted several hours.
Eighty-six examples are given in the
pamphlet showing the use of the oil in
moderating the force of the waves.
The oil was applied in various ways,
but the most effective seems to have
been as follows: Take a canvas bag
and puncture it full of holes with =
sail needle Then put in it quantity
of oakum and fill up the bag with oil.
The bags should be hung over the lee
bows as a rule, as the vessel in making
lee-way drifts into the "slick " made
on the water by the oil.
Since the photographic Office began
the dissemination of information in re-
gard to the use of oil in heavy seas it's
use has vastly increased. Scarcely a
vessel coming into port now and report
ing o heavy storm does not also report
having used Oil with great benefit.
Every one who has been to sea knows
that the danger in storm is not from
the wind, but from the sea. & ship
is lost at sea in two ways: First by
the waves tearing her to pieces, filling
her and sinking her. They thunder
against her with terrific force, starting
her seams and wrenching her apart
until enough water has entered to
overcome her buoyancy and she goes
down. If a ship is undertaken she
does not sink, but becomes water
logged and the waves tear her to
pieces and streW the sea- with her
wreckage. Tons of wafer are precipi-
tated ON her deck, smashing it and
carrying away the matches and 1looding g
the hold. This is not done by the
waves themselves, but each greatroller
is covered like mountain with crests
and hills, and these are constantly top
pling about the ship and rushing wildly
against or over her. Now, oil has the
effect Of smoothing down all these and
leaving a smooth surface to the large
CLASSY rollers Thus the greatest danger
Of a storm is overcome.
The other danger is from the waves
themselves, and this nothing can abate.
In all vessels there are two centers-.
the meter center and the center of
gravity. If a vessel is caught by the
waves and rolled over until her meter
center and her center OF gravity meets
she capsizes, Vessels have been lost
in this manner, but not often. The
greatest danger is from combing
waves, and the use OF oil seems to be
an almost complete safeguard against
these. Thousands and thousands Of
dollars and hundreds of lives have, no
doubt, been saved by the use Of OIL
N. Y. I4Sba1ne.